Cigarette case with ejector and agitator



NWA, MS, E950 H. MASQHEK 229;??7@

CIGARETTE CASE WITH EJECTOR ND AGITATOR Filed April 11A, 1947 2 Sheets-Sham l.

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@uvam/co@ Patented Nov. 14, `1950 UNITED STATES OFFICE CIGARETTE CASE WHTH EJECTOR AND AGITATOR 1 Claim.

This invention relates to cigarette cases, and more particularly, has reference to a cigarette case of novel design, having embodied therein a means for ejecting a cigarette upon operation by the user of the ejecting mechanism.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a case of the character described having a novel lever-operated ejecting mechanism.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a cigarette case in which the ejecting mechanism is novelly connected to an agitating means unusually Well adapted to position a cigarette for ejection.

Still another object is to provide a case of the type described which is easily filled with a fresh supply of cigarettes, and in which the electing and agitating means take up an unusually small amount of space.

It is a further object of the invention'to provide a cigarette case which, though efficiently performing the functions stated, is nevertheless adapted to be manufactured simply, and unusually inexpensively.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a cigarette case constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View through the cigarette case, taken on line 2-2 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional View taken through the case, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a portion of the cover of the case.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Figure 1.

Figure '7 is a detal sectional View taken on line '1 1 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional View through a spring means embodied in the invention for keeping the cigarettes closely packed in proper position, the spring means being shown in a locked position.

2 erence character 5 designates generally the case, which is rectangular in conformation, being substantially similar in outline and dimensions to the ordinary package of cigarettes. The case 5 is provided with the anged cover 6 which is removable for the purpose of inserting a supply of cigarettes into the case.

As clearly shown in Figure l, in one side Wall of the case 5 is formed a laterally extended arcuate slot l, which is disposed substantially centrally of the side wall. The case 5 is further provided in its bottom wall with a small opening 8, which is located adjacent one end Wall of the case. This opening is in the nature of a discharge opening for waste particles of tobacco tending to accumulate, as is Well known, in a cigarette case.

In the same side Wall of the case 5 in which the arcuate slot I is formed, a pair of short slots 9 are provided, which are disposed adjacent opposite side edges of the side wall, and close to the top thereof. In the bottom of the case, and closely spaced from said side Wall, and parallel thereto, are short slots It. The purpose of the arcuate slot "I, and the respective slots 9 and I0, will be explained in detail hereinafter.

In the cover 6 is formed, adjacent one end thereof, an oblong relatively large opening II, this opening being provided as an opening through which a cigarette may be ejected upon v operation of the ejection means provided in the Referringv to the drawings in detail, the refin long preferably rectangular convolutions.

device.

Referring to Figure 3 particularly, I provide a removable guide piece I2, that is formed from a sheet of thin resilient metallic material. As clearly shown by this figure, the guide piece I2 is adapted to engage, along most of its length, one end wall and the side wall of the case 5 opposite from that in which the arcuate slot 'I is formed. One end of the guide piece I2, however, is curved transversely of the guide piece, curving inwardly as at I3 to provide a yieldable cigarette retaining portion, the cigarettes being designated by the reference character C.

For the purpose of pressing the supply of cigarettes forwardly within the case, there is provided a loose-acting spring I 4, which is preferably formed from a length of highly resilient thin spring wire. One end of the spring I4 is xedly secured at I5 to a movable cigarette engaging member I6, while the other end is similarly connected to a stationary member I 'I, as shown at I8. Intermediate its ends, the spring I4 is extended The stationary member Il is preferably rectangular in conformation, being formed of dimensions only slightly smaller as to width, relative to the adjacent end wall of the case 5, the stationary member Il being thus adapted to be fitted snugly land relatively immovably in the case. This member is formed with a centrally disposed longitudinal slot I9 in which is receivable a locking bar formed on the rear face of the movable member I5, and disposed longitudinally of said member. The locking bar is provided with an upwardly extended end projection 2l and thus it is seen that the movable member I6 may easily be locked to the stationary member Il, by manually pressing it rearwardly so as to enter the lock bar 2D into the slot I9, after which the member I6 is withdrawn in an upward direction, whereby the end projection 2l is engaged behind the stationary member l'l. This operation is performed when it is desired to reload the case with a fresh supply of cigarettes C. After the case has been filled, the movable member lE is slipped out of engagement with the member l1, and thereafter, under the expanding action of the spring i4, presses the supply of cigarettes forwardly, so that they will be maintained at all times in proper position for ejection in a manner to be described hereinafter.

Mounted-in the case 5 is a rigid plate 22. which is preferably rectangular, and of dimensions corresponding substantially to one side wall of the case. This plate is mountable against the side wall of the case 5 in which is formed the angular slot l. As shown clearly in Figure 7, it is spaced closely from said side wall, and is parallel thereto. The plate 22 is rigidly maintained in this position by reason of the provision of ears 25a extending from its side edges through the slots 9 of the case 5, said ears being bent into engagement with the case, as shown particularly clearly in Figure 1. The plate 22 is also formed along its lower edge with downwardly extended ears 23, that are inserted in the slots I formed in the bottom of the case 5.

intermediate the top and bottom edges of the plate 22, and disposed in parallel relation to the sides of the plate, is formed a slit 25. Extending from the slit 25 toward one side edge of the plate 22 is a flat depressed portion 25 of the plate, the plate 22 being similarly depressed, but on the 0pposite face thereof, in a direction extending from the slit 25 to the opposite side edge of the plate. There is thus provided a iiat channel, intersected intermediate its ends by the slit 25.

Slidable in this channel is a substantially T- shaped agitator piece 28, which is formed with the tongue 2S, that passes through the slit 25 and rides in the aforesaid channel.

The agitator piece 28 is formed from a thin, resilient, metallic material, and as shown clearly by Figure 3, is curved inwardly toward the opposed incurved end i3 of the guide piece I2. The ends of these members are, however, spaced from each other approximately the distance approximating the thickness of a cigarette, as shown in the drawings. By reason of the slidable mounting of the agitator piece 23 relative to the rigid plate 22, this member is movable laterally, forwardly and rearwardly, into the position in which it is shown in the drawings.

Adjacent the rear end of the tongue 29, there is connected thereto, as at 38, one end of a length 0f spring wire 3i, the spring wire 3l being extended curvingly in a rearward direction, and thence upwardly and forwardly relative to the tongue 29, the other end of the spring wire 3i being inserted in openings 32 in the plate 22,

whereby said end may be fixedly connected to the plate. It is thus seen that when the agitator piece 28, with its tongue 29, has been moved rearwardly, the spring wire 3| automatically tends to return it to its normal forwardly disposed position.

Slightly forwardly of the connection of the tongue 29 to the spring wire 3! a lug 33 is provided on the tongue 29, extending outwardly therefrom, for engagement by an angular lever 34, which is pivoted at 35 to the plate 22. The arm of the lever 34 which engages the lug 33 is preferably folded upon itself longitudinally, as shown at 36, and the folded ends 3l are bent outwardly so as to extend through the arcuate slot l. The ends 3l of said arm are inserted through an opening in a button 38 positioned exteriorly of the case 5, the ends being bent away from each other whereby to retain the button 38. Thus, it is seen that by manual operation of the button 38, laterally relative to the arcuate slot l, the angular lever Bil may be pivoted on its fulcrum 35 whereby to engage the lug 33, thus moving the tongue 29 rearwardly. As previously explained, after the tongue 253 has been moved rearwardly in this manner, the spring wire 3l connected thereto automatically tends to return it to its previous position.

The other arm 39 of the angular lever 3G is connected as at lf3 to a length of spring wire 4l, one end l2 of which is clamped by sleeve G3 to the plate 22. Adjacent the other end of the spring wire Si, the wire is formed with a right angled bend lili, and the adjacent end formed into a hook d5.

The hook 5 is disposed in a flat plane, and in diameter is less than the diameter of a cigarette C, as shown clearly in Figure 8, The hook i5 lies flat, normally, along the bottom of the case 5, adjacent one end wall thereof, and is disposed directly below the ejection opening Il formed in the cover 6. As may be clearly seen by referring to Figure 2, it is to be noted that the spring wire 4l, in being extended from its end 22 is bent short of the bottom wall of the case 5, and is thereafter extended obliquely downwardly to the right angled bend By reason of this construction, the spring wire t! is adapted to be raised by the arm 39 of the angular lever 34, and after it has been so raised, a release by the operator of the button 38 causes the wire to be returned to its normal position, by reason of its inherent resiliency.

In operation of my device, the cover 6 is removed for the purpose of loading the case with a supply of cigarettes C. As explained hereinbefore, before the cigarettes are inserted, the movable member l5 is locked, being unlocked after a proper supply has been placed in the case. The expanding action of the spring it forces the cigarettes forwardly within the case, so that there will always be a cigarette positioned over the hool; end 115.

To eject a cigarette, the button 33 is moved laterally in the arcuate slot This causes the angular lever 34 to pivot on its fulcrum in a rearward direction, to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. The cigarette C is, as a result, ejected through the opening ll of the cover 6, a sucient distance to enable the user to grasp it easily and remove it from the case, the position of the cigarette after being so ejected being shown in dotted lines in Figure 2.

When the angulailever 34 is moved rearwardly by operation of the buttonv 38, concurrently with its ejection of the cigarette C, it engages the lug 33 of the tongue 29, and this causes the agitator piece 28 to be moved rearwardly a short distance, thus disturbing the supply of cigarettes sufciently so as to result in another cigarette C moving forward to take the position of the ejected cigarette, as soon as it has been removed completely from the case.

It is pointed out that with a device such as described, a considerable saving of time and trouble is eiected for such persons as those driving automobiles, and the like. Additionally, it is observed that a desirable safety feature is present, since the attention of the driver does not have to be taken up with removing a cigarette from a pack, it being possibleat all times to give full attention to operation of the vehicle. Apart from this fact, it is also a highly desirable matter of convenience that a cigarette be ejected easily, in the manner described.

What is claimed is:

A device of the class described, comprising a casehaving an ejection opening at one end, said case being proportioned to receive a supply of parallel cigarettes disposed longitudinally of the case, a plate mounted therein adjacent one side wall of the case, an angular lever pivoted to the plate, means for operating the lever, cigarette ejection means connected to the lever and aligned with the ejection opening, said means being at 30 the other end of the case and being spaced approximately a cigarette length from the opening when the other end is engaged by said means, an agitator piece slidably mounted on the plate, said ypiece curved to extend inwardly of the case whereby to disturb a supply of cigarettes when the agitator piece is slidably moved, a lug on the agitator piece engageable by the lever, whereby to move the agitator piece in one direction simultaneously with lever actuation of the ejection means, a spring connected to the agitator piece yieldably tending to move it in the other direction, said agitator piece moving transversely of the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes, and yielding means mounted on the case tending to maintain one of a supply of cigarettes deposited therein in position over the ejection means.

HENRY MASCHEK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,692,545 Carpenter Nov. 20, 1928 1,943,678 Keefe Jan, 16, 1934 2,282,036 Cobbs et al May 5, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 195,741 Great Britain Apr. 4, 1923 

